Chapter 2: The Red Earrings
Desmond tried to reach the stage before I finished my first sentence.
Chairman Voss's assistant intercepted him.
"Mr. Ashcombe, please remain with the guests.""
"I'm her husband.""
"Tonight you're Corvina's Chief Operating Officer.""
That stopped him.
I saw it from the podium.
So did everyone else.
For years, Desmond had used our marriage whenever it benefited him.
My family's connections had opened doors.
My father's name had reassured early investors.
My presence beside him had made him look stable, polished, trustworthy.
But the second my existence became inconvenient, I became his "decorative wife.""
Now he wanted to be my husband again.
Interesting.
I looked across the ballroom.
"When I considered investing in Corvina," I began, "I wasn't interested only in revenue.""
The room quieted.
"I wanted to know what kind of company I was buying.""
Isolde's face changed.
Barely.
But I saw it.
Her fingers rose unconsciously toward my grandmother's earrings.
"I looked at leadership," I continued.
"Employee retention. Vendor relationships. Executive spending. Workplace complaints.""
Desmond's jaw tightened.
"And accountability.""
Nobody moved.
Chairman Voss stood several feet behind me.
He had warned me earlier.
Once I started, there would be no going back.
That was fine.
I'd crossed that line the moment Desmond brought his mistress to the company gala wearing jewelry stolen from my bedroom.
"Corvina has extraordinary people," I said.
"Engineers, designers, analysts, support teams and managers who kept this company moving through difficult years.""
Several employees exchanged glances.
"They deserve leadership worthy of their work.""
Applause broke out.
Desmond didn't clap.
Neither did Isolde.
I didn't announce any firings.
Not yet.
That would have been satisfying.
But satisfaction wasn't why I had spent nearly eighty million dollars assembling control of Corvina.
I wanted facts documented.
I wanted every decision lawful.
And most importantly, I wanted Desmond to reveal exactly how frightened he was.
Fear makes arrogant people careless.
"Tomorrow morning," I concluded, "the board will meet at nine.""
Desmond's expression hardened.
"All executive appointments, compensation arrangements and discretionary expenditures will be reviewed.""
Now Isolde went white.
There it was.
Not the affair.
Money.
Chairman Voss stepped forward as applause filled the ballroom again.
When I left the stage, Desmond was waiting.
He grabbed my arm.
This time, I pulled away before his fingers closed.
"Don't touch me.""
"Wren, we need to talk.""
"We've needed to talk for six months.""
"Not here.""
I looked around.
Employees were openly watching now.
"Why? You didn't mind humiliating me here.""
His eyes flashed.
"Keep your voice down.""
"Why?""
"Wren.""
Isolde appeared behind him.
Her confidence had returned, though her smile looked brittle.
"Perhaps emotions are running high.""
I stared at her earrings.
"Take them off.""
She blinked.
"Excuse me?""
"The earrings.""
Desmond stepped between us.
"Don't start.""
I looked at him.
"You told me you'd never seen them.""
"They're earrings, for God's sake.""
"They belonged to my grandmother.""
Isolde's hand rose protectively.
"Desmond gave them to me.""
The words landed between us.
Several employees heard.
Desmond turned sharply.
"Isolde.""
"What?"" she said.
"You did.""
I almost thanked her.
Instead, I held out my hand.
"Then Desmond gave you stolen property.""
Isolde's cheeks reddened.
"You can't accuse me—"
"I just did.""
She removed the earrings.
Slowly.
The confidence drained from her face as she dropped them into my palm.
I closed my fingers around them.
For the first time that night, my hands shook.
Not because of Desmond.
Because I remembered my grandmother fastening them onto me in her bedroom.
"Never let someone convince you that keeping the peace is more important than keeping yourself," she'd told me.
At twenty-eight, I'd thought she was talking about business.
At thirty-six, I finally understood.
Desmond leaned toward me.
"Enough theater.""
"You created the theater.""
"You bought my company behind my back.""
"Your company?""
His mouth closed.
I stepped closer.
"You own 2.7 percent.""
"Operationally, I built Corvina.""
"Then tomorrow's review should be easy.""
Something flickered across his face.
I saw it.
So did Isolde.
"What review?"" she asked.
Desmond ignored her.
"Wren, whatever you think you've discovered—"
"I haven't told you what I discovered.""
He froze.
That was mistake number one.
I hadn't accused him of anything except stealing earrings.
Yet he was already defending himself.
Chairman Voss approached us.
"Ms. Ashcombe?""
Desmond flinched at the formality.
Voss continued.
"The auditors arrived.""
Isolde's breathing changed.
Desmond looked at Voss.
"What auditors?""
"The independent forensic team," I answered.
His eyes snapped toward mine.
"Forensic?""
"Routine diligence.""
"At eleven o'clock at night?""
"Some records have a habit of disappearing before morning.""
Desmond stared at me.
Then he suddenly reached into his jacket for his phone.
Chairman Voss spoke calmly.
"I wouldn't.""
Desmond stopped.
"Wouldn't what?""
"Contact anyone with access to company systems.""
Desmond laughed.
But it sounded wrong.
"You people are insane.""
Isolde tugged his sleeve.
"Desmond, what is she talking about?""
"Nothing.""
"Then why are there forensic auditors?""
"I said nothing.""
Her eyes searched his.
For the first time, mistress and husband no longer looked like partners.
They looked like two people wondering which one had been lied to more.
My phone vibrated inside my clutch.
One message.
I read it.
Then read it again.
Chairman Voss noticed my expression.
"What is it?""
I turned the screen toward him.
His face hardened.
Desmond saw that.
"What?""
I slipped the phone away.
"Wren, what is it?""
I looked at the man I'd slept beside for ten years.
The man who thought infidelity would be the ugliest thing I discovered.
"It appears," I said, "someone transferred $4.8 million from a Corvina subsidiary three days ago.""
Isolde stepped backward.
Desmond didn't.
He simply stared at me.
May you like
And then Isolde whispered the sentence that changed everything.
"Desmond told me you authorized it.""
